Window closure operator



July 5, 1966 J. L. MARTIN WINDOW CLOSURE OPERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1964 July 5, 1966 J. L. MARTIN WINDOW CLOSURE OPERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2'2", 1964 f7 if if United States p Patent Oiice 3,258,874 Patented July 5, 1966 3,258,874 WINDOW CLOSURE OPERATOR Jerry L. Martin, Owatonna, Minn., assignor to 'Iruth Tool Company, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Apr. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 362,636 11 Claims. (Cl. 49-252) This invention relates to closure operators and, more particularly, to closure operators for awning type windows, particularly those Iof metal construction.

At the present time, there are many closure operators available for awning type windows, with the structures being primarily designed for use with wood windows. These constructions have not been found suitable for use with awning type windows constructed of metal, particularly because of the limited space for the operator when the window is closed. Known operators for metal windows have not provided a strong positive operating structure.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved closure operator for awning type windows providing positive opening and closing movements of the window and requiring minimum space when the window is closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure operator for awning type windows of metal construction in which the operator provides positive opening and closing of the window and includes an arm extending yfrom the operating mechanism to a guide track iixed to the underside of the window sash and hinge means connecting the arm to a shoe associated with the guide track t enable the use of maximum opening and closing forces without distortion of the parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a closure operator as deiined in the preceding paragraph in which the shoe associated with the guide track is formed integrally with a part of the hinge means whereby the shoe and arm can be simply connected with a minimum number of parts, a hinge pivot for `the hinge extends generally parallel to the length of the guide track and means are provided for storing the head of a headed connector for the hinge and arm without increasing the overall thickness of the construction to permit placement `of the operator in a minimum amount of space between the sash and window frame when the window is closed.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of th'e window showing the frame in vertical section with the window sash in elevation and showing the sash closed in full line and in open position in broken line;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view on an enlarged scale and taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a section taken generally along the line 3 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary View of the lower part of the window sash and structure associated therewith shown in the fully open position of the window;

FIG. 5 is a section taken generally along the line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the hinge;

FIG. 7 is a View, similar to FIG. 3, showing a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a section taken generally along the line 8 8 in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the hinge of the second embodiment.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the are formed integrally with the shoe 50.

invention together with a modification thereof with the understanding that the present -disclosure is to be considered as an exemplication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, 'an awning type window is shown having a window frame including a sill 10 in which a window sash 11 is mounted. The sash 11 is movable between a closed position shown in full line and an open, broken line position, by suitable mounting mechanism including an upper slidable unit 12 and a pair of arms 13 and 14 associated with the sash at each side thereof. By comparing the full line and broken line positions of the sash, it will be seen that the upper end lof the sash 11 moves downwardly as the sash opens and the lower end of the sash moves along a generally straight, horizontal line between open and closed positions.

The structural shape of the window sill 10 and sash 11 are shown, more particularly, in FIG. 3 in which the sill has a pair of spaced apart vertical flanges 20 and 21 against which a pair -of sash flanges 22 and 23 abut, respectively, with weather stripping 24 disposed therebetween to form a seal. The flanges of the sill are connected by a panel 25 and the flanges 22 and 23 of the sash are connected by a panel 26. A relatively small enclosed chamber is thus defined by parts of the sill and sash when the Window is closed. It is in this space that portions of the closure operator must lit when the window is clos'ed.

The closure operator for the window comprises a manually operable crank 30 extending into a housing 31 aixed to the window sill 10 which, in a known manner, causes rotation of a pair of gear sectors 32 and 33 in response to rotation of the crank. Each of the gear sectors 32 and 33 has an arm 34 an-d 35 formed integrally therewith with these arms being of a substantially rigid construction for transmission of forces therethrough 'to the Window sash without deflection.

As part of the closure operator, guide track means are associated with the underside of the window sash and, more specifically, -a pair of guide tracks 40 and 41 are fastened to the sash panel 26 by threaded fasteners 42. The guide tracks extend for substantially the entire length 0f the sash and each of the tracks is constructed of a shape to have `a pair of flanges 43 and 44 dene a generally rectangular channel for receiving a guide shoe.

There lare a pair of the guide shoes 50 associated, one with each of the operator arms 34 and 35, and the guide tracks 40 and 41, respectively. The structures associated with the operator arms 34 and 35 are identical andthat associated wtih arm 34 will be described. The guide shoe 50 associated wit-h the guide track 40 has a pair of flanges 51 and 52 running the length thereof for fitting within the channel of the guide track. The guide shoe 50 in a preferred form is molded of a plastic, such as nylon, for easy sliding movement within the channel. This construction facilitates the integral molding therewith of a pair of hinge leaves 53 and 54, which extend laterally from beneath the shoe and are spaced apart lengthwise of the shoe. A lseparate hinge leaf 55 is positioned between the hinge leaves 53 and 54 and is hinged thereto by a hinge pin 56 causing the hinge leaf S5 to pivot about an axis extending generally parallel to the length of the guide track means. This hinge leaf 55 is connected to an end of the operator arm 34 by a headed fastener, such as a rivet 57 having a head 58 which canl be positioned Within a space between the hinge leaves 53 and 54. This space is obtained by the hinge leaf 55 being of a thickness less than the leaves 53 and 54 which With the foregoing structure, the window sash 11 can be positively opened and closed by rotation of the crank 30. In opening movement the rigid arms 34 and 35 move outwardly and `act through the connecting mem-` bers 57 to urge the shoes 50 outward and the shoes at the same time urge the guide tracks outwardly as the shoes move along the guide track. Rotation between the shoes and the operating arms occurs as permitted by the headed fasteners 57 and also pivoting of the hinge leaf 55 takes place relative to the shoe and the hinge leaves 53 and 54 formed integrally therewith as shown in broken line in FIG. 1 and also in FIG. 4. With the force being transmitted through the hinge pin 56 from the hinge leaf 55 to the hinge leaves 53 and 54, it will be seen that the forces are substantially directly applied to the shoe 50 with the result that there is no substantial twisting force applied to parts of the closure operator,

A second embodiment of the closure operator is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 in which similar reference parts have been given the same reference numeral with a prime affixed thereto.

In this embodiment, a shoe 70 has a body with flanges 71 and 72 engageable within the channel of guide track 40 and with the body having generally a T-shape cross section. In this embodiment, none of the hinge is formed integrally with the body of the shoe. The hinge comprises a first leaf 75 generally coextensive with the base of the shoe and secured thereto by rivets 76 and 77. A second hinge leaf 78 is located centrally of the hinge leaf 75 and underlies a central part thereof. The hinge leaves i are connected together by a hinge pin 80 extending substantially parallel to the length of the guide track. The hinge leaf 78 is connected to the operator arm 34 by a fastening rivet 81 which permits pivoting movement of one of the hinge leaves relative to the arrn. This headed festener 81 has the head 82 which can pass through an opening 83 in the hinge leaf 75 to be positioned within a recess 84 in the body of the shoe to permit compact association of the parts when the window is closed.

With the structure described herein, a closure operator has been provided for a window in which the parts are assembled in compact relation to fit within a limited space when the awning type window is closed while permitting positive operation of the sash between open and closed positions. This is accomplished by the transmission of forces through rigid operating arms and sturdily constructed shoes with hinge means which permit angular movment of the shoes and guide tracks at the bottom of the window sash relative to the operating arms while transmit-ting the necessary forces from the operating arms to the window.

I claim:

1. A closure operator for an awning type window having a movable sash Iand a frame comprising, operating mechanism mounted on said frame, a guide track fixed to the underside of said sash and a motion transmitting connection between the operating mechanism and the guide track including an arm movable by said mechanism, a shoe interfitting with said track and movable therealong, and hinge means having a pivot axis extending generally parallel to 4and in front of the guide track connecting said arm Iand shoe to permit pivoting of said shoe and track relative to said arm.

2. A closure operator as defined in claim 1 in which said arm is relatively rigid, said hinge means is connected tto the arrn by a headed member, and said shoe has means defining a recess to receive the head of said member.

3. A closure operator as defined in claim 1 in which said shoe is formed integrally with a pair of hinge ears spaced apart lengthwise of said shoe, a hinge part is positioned between said ears, and a hinge .pin extends through the hinge part and ears to complete said hinge means. t

4. A closure operator as defined in claim 3 in which said shoe is of a reduced thickness at a location to receive said hinge part in nested relation therewith and provide a spa-ce for receiving the head of a connector between said arm and hinge part.

5. A closure operator as defined in claim 1 in which said hinge means comprises a pair of hinge leaves with one leaf fastened to4 the shoe and the other leaf fastened to said arm.

6. A closure operator as defined in claim 5 in which the hinge leaf fastened to the shoe has a recess in line with the other hinge leaf adapted to receive the head of a fastener connecting the latter hinge leaf to the arm.

7. A closure operator for an awning type Vwindow which opens from the bottom with the top of the sash moving downwardly as the sash moves out comprising, guide track means fixed to the bottom of the sash and extending along the length thereof with a pair of inturned fianges defining a shoe guiding channel, a guide shoe having a body positionable in said channel with the edges of said body positioned behind the flanges, an operating mechanism including a rigid arm, and hinge means connecting said arm and shoe including a pair of spaced apart hinge leaves formed in-tegrally with said shoe body on the underside thereof, an intermediate leaf connected to said arm to lie between the spaced apart leaves when the window is closed, and a hinge pin connecting said leaves together for pivoting about an axis parallel -to the length of said guide track means as the window is opened, said hinge pin lying forwardly of the guide track and in the plane thereof when the window is closed.

8. A closure operator as defined in claim 7 in which there are two of said arms each having one of said guide shoes and hinge means associated therewith.

9. A closure operator as defined in claim 7 in which said intermediate leaf is of a thickness less than that of the spaced apart hinge leaves to provide a space for the head of a connector between the hinge and arm when the leaves are in parallel relation.

10. A closure operator for an awning type window comprising, a guide track fixed to the bottom of the sash and extending along the length thereof, a guide shoe engageable with the track, an operating mechanism, and hinge means connecting said mechanism and shoe including a pair of spaced apart hinge leaves formed integrally with said shoe, an intermediate hinge leaf positioned to lie between the spaced apart leaves when the window is closed, and a hinge pin connecting said leaves together for pivoting of the intermediate hinge leaf about an axis parallel to and in front of the length of said guide track as the window is opened.

11. A closure operator for an awning type window which opens from the bottom comprising, guide track means fixed to the bottom of the sash and extending along the length thereof with a pair of inturned flanges defining a shoe guiding channel, a guide shoe having a body positionable in said channel with the edges of said body positioned behind the flanges, an operating mechanism including a rigid arm, and hinge means connecting said arm and shoe including a first hinge leaf secured to the underside of the shoe body, a second hinge leaf connected to said arm, and a hinge pin connecting said leaves together for pivoting about an axis parallel to the length lof said guide track means as the window is opened and closed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,185,321 1/1940 Thoma. 2,674,452 4/ 1954 Hummert 268-105 2,811,349 10/ 1957 Bondurant et al 268--104 3,139,276 5/1965 Hay 268-108 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

J. K. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE OPERATOR FOR AN AWNING TYPE WINDOW HAVING A MOVABLE SASH AND A FRAME COMPRISING, OPERATING MECHANISM MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A GUIDE TRACK FIXED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID SASH AND A MOTION TRANSMITTING CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OPERATING MECHANISM AND THE GUIDE TRACK INCLUDING AN ARM MOVABLE BY SAID MECHANISM, A SHOE INTERFITTING WITH SAID TRACK AND MOVABLE THEREALONG, AND HINGE MEANS HAVING A PIVOT AXIS EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO AND IN FRONT OF THE GUIDE TRACK CONNECTING 